Vehicle-spring.



F. S. OWEN.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 4. 191a.

LQUKQQQO Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

y W 8mm? FELIX s.- owErt-or ianznrivesmon'raiia;

will l W l l t a i. a

' taster -mite.

mamas.

of Letters fiatentl The present invention relates to cftttiii new anduseful improvements in the construction of elliptic springs, and has forits object to provide a device of this character in which the superposedleaves are mounted and assembled in such a manner as to obtain a maximumamount of strength and resiliency.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an elliptic spring whichis comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construc tion, whichmakes provision for holding the superposed leaves securely againstlateral displacement without the use of shackles, which utilizes themiddle portions of the superposed leaves, as well as the extremities ofthe leaves, for the obtaining of resiliency, and which can be used inthe same manner as an ordinary elliptic spring.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a simple form of elliptic spring constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4:is a top plan view of the flared end of one of the upper leaves beforebending edge portions thereof downwardly to provide side flanges forengaging the next lower leaf. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the flaredend of the leaf, as shown by Fig. 4, bringing out the taper in thicknesswhich preferably accompanics the flare in width.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Forthepurpose of illustration theinventiofi is shown as embodied in asimple elliptiejs'pping, of whichea'clilialf is formed of tw'osliiperposed leaves, altho1igh it willbe obvious" that an desired numberof superester and graded" leaves" can beus'ed in ij lsiin 1 as ns. p ndisf p the ldatPwhich' the'spring is designed to carry. ...T a numer seSig fPQ h9 m in leaves of the spring, said leavesbeing oppositely bowedin the usual manner,

and being connected at their extremities by.

the conventional pivot bolts 2. A shorter leaf 3 is fitted upon each ofthe master leaves 1, the ends of the shorter leaves being preferablypointed, as indicated at 3*. It will also beobserved that the endportions of the shorter leaves are gradually flared in width, said flarein width being preferably accompanied by a gradual taper in thickness,as is indicated quite clearly by Figs. 4: and 5. The edge portions ofthe flared ends of the shorter spring strips are bent at right angles tothe plane of the strips, thereby providing side flanges 4 which embracethe leaves 1 and prevent lateral displacement of the ends of the shorterleaves. Under some circumstances the extreme edges of the flanges 4: maybe returned around the leaves 1, as indicated at 4*. This would notinterfere in any manner with the sliding movements of the superposedleaves upon each other as the spring flexes, but would make gaping ofthe springs impossible. With these side flanges 4 it is not necessary toemploy any special shackles for holding the leaves of the springtogether, and these flanges serve to wardly, thereby causing theresiliency of the metal at the middle of the spring leaves to beutilized in absorbing the shocks and jars, as well as the resiliency ofthe ends of the leaves. Ordinarily, the middle portions of the leavesare practically dead and add little or nothing to the yielding qualitiesof the sprin although with the present construction t e metal at themiddle of the leaves is FatentedDec. f2, X

brought into action as Well as that at the ends of the leaves. In thismanner increased strength and resiliency is obtained,

without increasing the cost of the spring.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let Copies of this patent may be obtained for posed leaves ofgraded lengths, the ends of the shorter leaves being simultaneouslytapered. in thickness and flared in Width, the 0 projecting flared edgesbeing extended laterally to provide side flanges which embrace thelonger leaves, and the side flanges terminating in inwardly extendinglips, the

lips preventing gaping of the ends of the 25 leaves, While the sideflanges prevent relative lateral displacement ofthe leaves.

:In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. e I FELIX S. OWEN.

i. VVitnesses-i GEO; M. HAYS, V A. C. WANCK.

five cents eacli, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington,I). 0.

